Kilworth prove no match for Fr O’Neill’s in IHC
Fr O’Neill’s 3-14 Kilworth 0-8
THE much anticipated meeting of Fr O’Neill’s and Kilworth in the County Premier IHC at Lisgoold on Sunday never lived up to pre match expectations as the East Cork side emerged comfortable victors in a one sided encounter played before a large attendance Fr O’Neill’s set the tone from the offset.
Declan Dalton who played a leading role in Cork’s triumph over Waterford three days earlier in the Munster Under-21 HC was denied an early goal scoring opportunity when the Kilworth keeper Kieran Walsh made a vital save off his line from close range in the first minute at the expense of a ‘65’ that Kevin O’Sullivan pointed from.
In their next attack Dalton turned provider for Eoin Conway who netted that raced them into a 1-1 to no score lead by the third minute. At this juncture Fr O’Neill’s were certainly showing the greater urgency. Cillian Broderick with a point in the 12th minute increased their lead to five points. At the other end Kilworth who accumulated their fair share of wides during the early exchanges finally got off the mark when David Twomey pointed a free at the end of the first quarter.
James McCarthy impressed for the Avondhu side throughout and he reeled off two rapid points over the next couple of minutes to close the margin to 1-3 to 0-3. Joe Millerick responded with a fine point for Fr O’Neill’s before Kilworth with two more points by Noel McNamara from frees closed the margin to two points by the 23rd minute. Just when the North Cork outfit looked to have steadied the ship and perhaps get back on terms it was Fr O’Neill’s that finished the half in a flurry. Kevin O’Sullivan sent over two frees before Eoin Conway with a great point from near the sideline in the closing moments helped last years Co IHC champions lead at the break by double scores 1-7 to 0-5.
For the second half Kilworth needed a big start to have any aspirations of keeping their championship hopes alive. However Fr. O’Neill’s again started at a blistering pace. In the 31st minute Declan Dalton and Sean O’Connor combined well for Kevin O’Sullivan who pointed. Moments later a massive clearance by corner back Podge Butler was broken down by Eoin Conway who set up O’Sullivan for another point. The same player followed with a free in the 39th minute to move 1-10 to 0-5 in front.
Kilworth tried hard to get back into the tie but they found it very hard to break down the Fr O’Neill’s defence where Adrian Kenneally dictated at centre back. David Twomey had Kilworth’s first score in this half at the three quarters stage to trail 1-11 to 0-6. Any hopes of a recovery were quickly dashed with O’Neill’s getting their second goal in the 47th minute when a mix up in the Kilworth full backline saw Eoin Motherway finish to the net from a tight angle.
In the last ten minutes a fine solo run by Declan Dalton from out near the flank saw him cut through the Kilworth defence to score their third goal and in the process set them on their way to a convincing victory.
FR O’NEILL’S: P Higgins, P Butler, B Murphy, M Millerick, G Millerick, A Kenneally, D Harrington, T Millerick 0-1, C Broderick 0-1, D Dalton 1-2 (0-1s/l) S O’Connor, J Millerick 0-1, M Motherway 0-1, K O’Sullivan 0-6 (2f, 2 ‘65’), E Conway 1-1. Subs: E Motherway 1-1 for M Motherway, L O’Driscoll for K O’Sullivan, P McMahon for T Millerick, M Motherway for E Conway.
KILWORTH: K Walsh, M McNamara, K Lane, D Twomey 0-3f, E McGrath, N Byrne, A O’Hara, B Sheehan, J Saich, P Moakley, J McCarthy 0-2, W Condon 0-1, L Whelan, N O’Brien, N McNamara 0-2f. Subs: B Tobin for N O’Brien, J Sheehan for L Whelan, C Donnellan for P Moakley, T Twomey for W Condon, A Condon for B Sheehan.
REFEREE: Nathan Wall (Carrigaline)